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Parks commission recommends accepting donated evergreen for Lions Park but defers installation until master plan
Summary
Commissioners recommended that the City Council accept a roughly $2,000 donation to purchase and transplant a large evergreen for Lions Park but voted to defer installation until it can be coordinated with the Lions Park master plan.
The Lake Elmo Parks Commission recommended June 15 that the City Council accept a donated evergreen intended for Lions Park and defer planting until the city can coordinate installation with upcoming Lions Park improvement plans.
Staff described a donor offer from Tony Manzera (the transcript contains variant spellings of the donor's last name) to purchase and transplant a large evergreen for use at the city's annual light‑up event. Staff estimated the donation at about $2,000, largely to cover spading and moving costs.
Staff also outlined standard considerations for acceptance of gifts: likely heavy watering and staff support in the first year, potential maintenance and liability issues, whether acceptance creates an obligation to replace the tree if it fails, and how the proposed planting would fit into the Lions Park master plan.
Commissioners discussed possible planting locations (including a green area near the former library house/outfield), water availability at the nearby ball field, and the risk that future master-plan decisions could require moving the tree. One commissioner said the commission should not obligate the city to replace the tree if the transplant fails.
A motion to recommend accepting the donation and deferring installation until coordination with Lions Park improvement plans was seconded and passed; the recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council. Staff noted no direct public cost for accepting the gift beyond potential first‑year watering/maintenance staffing.
